MONKEY Project(South Africa)

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MONKEY (South Africa)

This project has been involved in primate rehabilitation for 16 years, and can be considered the "Vervet Monkey Specialists". At one stage they dealt only with monkeys, but over time, have been receiving more species of animals and birds. Any orphaned and/or injured animals get treated at the center, and when healed or strong enough, released back to their natural habitat.

Goal of the project how volunteers can contribute

The aim of the research is to study and to document the behavioral activities of captive vervet monkeys, baboons and other wildlife species, correlate results with studies performed in the wild on wild free ranging vary monkeys and other species, and their ultimate releases into the wild. This project needs volunteers not only to help with the everyday running of the center, but also to assist with educating people on monkeys and help with the release process. Volunteers also play a very important role when the project is doing a release – there is a lot of data that needs to be recorded. Financial contributions go a long way to supporting the endless food and medical bills faced by the project.

Volunteer responsibilities

Volunteers will assist in the following tasks:

Taking care of injured sick / animals.

Helping around with medical procedures like dressing and stitching wounds, ministering medicines and parasite treatments.

Getting measurements and filling in report forms on admission, personal caring to traumatized monkeys and other animals admitted.

Meal preparation for animals.

Helping build new cages and enclosures and in general maintenance work at the center.

Talking to visitors and school groups, visit community projects.

Assessing the monkeys for their release and their release sites, making release enclosures, capture and processing monkeys for release, transporting monkeys/animals to release site, monitoring pre & post release.

Fees and Dates:

Global Crossroad provides volunteer programs at the lowest prices possible. Global Crossroad gives you the assurance that you will save a lot of money with our programs, because we do not promote the idea of volunteers spending thousands of dollars just to volunteer for a week. We also try our best in keeping our transactions transparent for volunteers to know and ensure that their fees are being used in the right way possible.

Except our registration fee of $299, our fees are as affordable as $690. The detailed fee structure of the Horse Project is as follows:

Weeks

1 Week

2 Week

3 Week

4 Week

5 Week

6 Week

7 Week

8 Week

Extra Per Week

Program Fee US$

N/A

$780

$1100

$1420

$1720

$1950

$2250

$2550

$350

Dates: Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays are the preferred arrival days. Thursdays and Fridays aren't such good days to arrive, as it is too close to the weekend (i.e. volunteers are hardly at the project, and they are then having time off).

room / food

The project has overnight facilities for small and large groups. The Loerie's Rest and Owl Barn dorms accommodate 15 people between them, Woodpecker Inn accommodates 4 – 6 people, and the Fish Eagle Cabin accommodates 3 – 4 people. Couples are accommodated separately in the Kingfisher Hut, or the Caravan. Sleeping outside can be arranged. Sheets, duvets and pillows are supplied, and in winter, sleeping bags help when it gets really cold (or if you want to sleep outside). Mosquito nets aren't necessary, but some volunteers feel safer with them. The camping site has toilets and shower facilities. A small kitchen / bar can be used by groups.

Free time/what volunteer can do in free time

When chores have been completed, and if there is time available, volunteers can go on excursions in the area.

Activities may include the Biggest Baobab in the World (listed as such), ethnic village, Kruger National Park; elephant back rides, Panorama scenic routes, and other activities (available on request).

Costs for these trips vary from R40 to R2500+, depending on the combinations of what you choose to do, entrance fees and distances travelled to get there. Please keep in mind that all additional activities are the sole responsibility of the volunteer, and that there is also an additional cost towards getting to / from these optional activities, and the cost will depend on how far you need to travel to get to these optional activities.

Major FAQ

The 1st option is to arrive in Joburg, spend the night at a local backpacker's lodge, and the next day, and take a bus out to the town closest to the project. This is possibly a cheaper, but longer option, as the bus takes 6 hours to get to the other end. The bus company used is a leading inter-city bus operator, and operates luxury buses between major cities in South Africa.

The 2nd option is to arrive in Joburg, and to then take a connecting flight from Joburg on to Phalaborwa. This may be a quicker route, but may also work out to be a bit more expensive.

The 3rd option is if volunteers combine this particular project with a project in the Kruger National Park area. Volunteers would have to fly to / from Eastgate airport in Hoedspruit when joining a project in the Kruger area, and pickups / drop offs for the Monkey Project will be arranged via Hoedspruit.

Volunteers will be collected from their pickup point (Phalaborwa Airport, the bus stop in town or Hoedspruit) by a representative from the project, and will be taken back to the project in the project vehicle.

Although this area is considered malaria free, other areas (such as Kruger National Park) are not, so if travelling further either before or after your volunteer experience, it is advisable to consult your doctor for guidance on malaria. Tetanus is highly recommended for this project.

Internet and email is only available at the project on arrival, and for emergencies only. Otherwise volunteers will have access to internet and emails when going into town.

It is also a good idea to take your mobile phone with you, as a more "reliable" way of staying in contact with family and friends back home. If you do decide to take your phone with you, please ensure that you have activated international roaming on your phone. Cheap sim cards can be purchased on arrival in South Africa, and don't forget to buy airtime as well.

Very safe. Volunteers must however be aware of their personal belongings when in town, and should also adhere to the safety tips given at orientation once at the project. Volunteers are advised to not leave personal items (passport, air tickets, money etc.) lying around – it is better to take precautions than to lose an important item.

Volunteers will be overseen by the project staff on a daily basis, and a certain amount of time will be spent working independently. However, the staffs are always available to lend a helping hand, and to guide volunteers where necessary.

Various tours can be arranged for after your volunteer experience, and could include a 7 day Chobe National Park and Victoria Falls, 7 day Okavango Delta, 5 day Chobe National Park and Victoria Falls, 10 Day Okavango Delta and Chobe and Victoria Falls, and others.